Cochise County turns to former inmates to solve construction labor shortage. With too few workers to keep up with demand for new houses, Rick Coffman of Castle and Cooke construction in Sierra Vista came up with the idea of “using former inmates.” And with County Sheriff Mark Dannels on board, the two “formalized a program” called “‘Framing our Future.’ ” (Sounds like a fantastic program! One that’s certain to help not only when it comes to building homes but also in reducing recidivism! However, Dealmaker has one tiny worry — that the name of the program could trigger a bit of unease in any inmate who served time after being convicted on false evidence, i.e., framed.) AZCentral. http://bit.ly/2Dctvba
Realtors release snapshot of 2017 home purchases. “While supply and affordability constraints are indeed making home buying a challenging endeavor for many households, data from [NAR’s] 2017 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers reveals some hopeful news: an overwhelming majority of successful buyers obtained a mortgage and made a down payment of less than 20%.” For a “Follow the money” breakdown of how recent buyers financed home purchases, tap toBuilder. http://bit.ly/2EpHl9w
Multi-Housing News’ Guide to 2018. Chock-full of “valuable insights into this year’s trends and opportunities, along with key market data and analysis.” Brought to you by Multi-Housing News and Commercial Property Executive. http://bit.ly/2mj2Py9
Addition of Library to Park Central marks 1st step in transformation.“With the opening of the temporary branch of the Burton Barr Library on January 5, the future of the new Park Central truly began… Along with hosting the temporary library, [owners Plaza Companies and Holualoa Companies are] also planning several other avenues to enhance the project.” And as AZRE reports, it’s “much, much more than just a makeover — and more than just office and retail space.” http://bit.ly/2CSAHvp
GEICO to build corporate office on Tucson’s south side, add 700 jobs. If you’re Bourn Companies, you “develop and build a 200,000-square-foot building on 20 acres at The Bridges, near 36th Street and Kino Parkway for the national insurer,” GEICO. It’s what you do. Arizona Daily Star has the sitemap and further details. However, there’s nothing at all in this report about whether switching to GEICO could save you 15% or more on Builder’s Risk insurance. http://bit.ly/2CZ7v6w
A construction boom is shaping up for 2018. “This optimism is likely based on current economic conditions, an increasingly business-friendly regulatory environment and expectations the Trump administration will boost infrastructure investments…” A CNBC/Diana Olick report, available in Builder. http://bit.ly/2mbe8rv
Expect building delays on commercial projects. “A shortage of skilled construction workers and rising construction costs… are expected to push back timetables on many commercial projects in the pipeline [particularly for warehouse and office space’].” <– That according to the CoStar Group and its report “Rising Costs, Labor Shortage May Add to Commercial Construction Delays in Coming Year.” Access it at REALTORMag. http://bit.ly/2Dbnj34
Pollack: Continued economic growth. With the “current strength… likely to continue in the near and intermediate term as the effect of the tax cuts and proposed infrastructure spending work their way through the economy,” The Monday Morning Quarterback urges everyone to “Enjoy the ride.” So start doing so, with data for these ‘Snapshots’ –> U.S.: Employment (including CONSTRUCTION), Manufacturing & Non-Manufacturing Indices, Vehicle Sales, Construction Spending. AZ: Active Listings, Median Sales Price, Days on Market. http://bit.ly/2mgPRB5
Tempe is No. 1 U.S. growth city but Arizona lags among states. <– That “according to a new report by U-Haul International,” which “ranked U.S. cities on the number of truck rentals [arrivals vs. departures] to those destinations.” In addition, the report found that quite a few folks also made a one-way U-Haul rental trek to Surprise, Arizona. See where the city landed on the list, at PBJ. http://bit.ly/2qGJ4VQ
Rosewood Homes starts development on gated Arizona community. “The builder will construct 61 homes in the gated community tucked into the surrounding mountain landscape along the Golf Club of Estrella [in Goodyear].” Further details, including rendering and plenty of info “from Rosewood on its Golf Villa floor plans,” in Builder. http://bit.ly/2qJ2Q37
Cameron’s $5M + deals of the day – http://bit.ly/2mdVcZ4
As a supplement to the Dealmaker, we thought you might enjoy these articles!
Arpaio running for U.S. Senate. “After years of claims that he may run for higher office, former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio is taking the plunge and running for US Senate.” Tap through for more on this BREAKING NEWS from Washington Examiner. http://bit.ly/2AJCaPy
“SPIRIT OF SERVICE” Arizona State of the State 2018 (Full text) by Gov. Doug Ducey. “By working together, with a spirit of service… we can move Arizona forward, and in a way that will make our fellow citizens proud. So let’s get to work.” — Gov. Doug Ducey. Read the State of the State in its entirety at Rose Law Group Reporter. http://bit.ly/2EoxyQQ
Tucson Democrat Kelly Fryer enters race for governor. “Kelly Fryer has spent most of her life helping people — as a pastor, a political activist and most recently serving as CEO of the YWCA Southern Arizona — but now she’s stepping onto the political stage. Fryer announced on Monday night she would seek the Democratic nomination to challenge Gov. Doug Ducey, a Republican, this fall.” Arizona Daily Star. http://bit.ly/2CLyDBU
Democrat Cardenas enters race for state treasurer. Rep. Mark Cardenas, D-Phoenix, filed to run for state treasurer Monday. Find out what pushed the three-term legislator to run and check out others who’ve entered the race to handle the state’s finances, in Rose Law Group Reporter. http://bit.ly/2Er7p3T
An Apple a day might hurt children’s brains. “[T]wo of the biggest investors on Wall Street have asked Apple to study the health effects of its products and to make it easier for parents to limit their children’s use of iPhones and iPads.” KEY QUOTE: “The days of just throwing technology out there and washing your hands of the potential impact are over…” More about this big Apple “backlash, where else, but in The New York Times. http://bit.ly/2qKC9eu
Did you ever take Carter’s Little Liver Pills? Well, straighten up and fly right. In Rose Law Group Reporter, “Author unknown” waxes nostalgic in a look at how the “lingo of the 50s is now a foreign language.” http://bit.ly/2DccttC
Newsmaker BONUS: Long-rumored schools blacklist in Tucson revealed; Kathryn Honecker, Rose Law Group Chair of the Class Action Department, says victims deserve compensation. Yesterday, Dealmaker featured an Arizona Daily Star report about Tucson Unified School District employees who “were blacklisted from ever being employed in the district again — wrongfully, secretly and seemingly illegally.” What we didn’t have was Kathryn Honecker’s take on those affected by the “secret ‘Do Not Hire List.’ ” — but we do now –> “Any teachers who had their careers derailed by being included in an illegal blacklist deserve to have those responsible answer for their actions and compensate them for their losses to both their income and reputation.” http://bit.ly/2CTIA4s
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